Softball Clinches SSC Title

Cristina DeTagle sets Barry career record with 213 hits while going 5-for-8 at the plate. Photo by: JC Ridley

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The top-ranked Barry University softball team (39-4, 16-2 SSC) clinched the Sunshine State Conference regular season title by winning an SSC series over the Nova Southeastern Sharks at the A.D. Griffin Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. NSU won the first game 1-0, but Barry came back to win the series finale 6-1 to win the softball program’s fifth SSC title.

In the midst of Barry winning the SSC title, another record was broken as Cristina DeTagle sneaked up on the career hits list. Heading into the series against the Sharks, DeTagle had tied the school record with 206, but recorded seven hits over the weekend, including five in Sunday’s doubleheader to become Barry’s all-time leader with 213.

DeTagle led the Buccaneers at the plate going 5-for-8, which included her second-career triple in as many weeks. Megan Young added three hits and two doubles, while Amber Jack (25-1) picked up the win in the rubber game to help pace Barry.

The Buccaneer offense has been fairly silent over the past two weeks recording no more than six hits and a single run in each of the five contests. However, in the series finale against the Sharks, Barry’s offense came alive with 12 hits and six runs to claim their fifth SSC title in the program’s short history.

Barry took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Young RBI double. Ashley Likens led the inning off with a single and stole second to end up scoring on the extra base hit. The Bucs followed with a four-run second inning to extend their lead to 5-0. Shyla Rider tripled in the Bucs first two runs and Likens plated the last two with a single.

NSU’s Rachel Talenfeld put the Sharks on the board in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single through the right side to score Dani Caron who reached on a Buccaneer defensive miscue to start the inning. However, Jack managed to get out of a bases loaded situation after getting Kelly Brookins to fly out to Amanda Goelz in centerfield.

Goelz then reached on a leadoff single in the top of the next inning to initiate Barry’s final run. Danielle Rezendes came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a Sara Hipson sacrifice bunt. Standing at third after a Brittany Anderson groundout, Rider plated her third run of the game with an RBI single to give Barry a 6-1 lead. The Bucs managed to hold on for the win despite giving up back-to-back singles in the bottom of the seventh.

Rider, DeTagle, Likens, Young, and Natalie Heeley each recorded two hits for Barry, while Rider and Likens drove in three and two respectively. Jack managed to pick up her second win on the weekend scattering eight hits and allowing just one unearned run. Talenfield recorded a team-high two hits for the Sharks, and Caron (14-8) was tagged for the loss allowing 12 hits and six runs.

The doubleheader started in disappointment for the Bucs as Nova Southeastern managed to steal a win away from top-ranked Barry. The Sharks lone run came in the bottom of the first inning when April Donahcie was hit by a Young pitch with the based juiced.

Despite getting rattled in the first inning, Young managed to settle down in the second and retired the next six NSU batters in the next two innings. Young (10-3) suffered the loss allowing just one earned run, but scattered five hits over seven innings and struck out seven. Lexi Sarradet (20-5) picked up the win for NSU tossing a six-hit shutout against the Bucs.

DeTagle went 3-for-4, which included a triple, to lead the Bucs offensively, while Talenfeld and Brittany Lamb each recorded two hits for NSU.

The Buccaneers will return to the friendly confines of Buccaneer Field on Friday, Apr. 25 hosting the Tampa Spartans in Miami Shores, Fla. to close out regular season play. A single game will start at 7 pm followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 26 at 1 pm.